JAMES T. BARTMESS, deceased, formerly county auditor of Miami County, Ohio, was a man whose death, on account of his superior qualities of mind and character, brought a distinct loss to the community in which his useful life had been passed. He was born at Covington, Ohio, October 8, 1845, and was a son of Hamilton and Jane (Barbour) Bartmess.

James T. Bartmess was taught the saddler's trade by his practical father, but neither necessity nor inclination led to his following it. His education was secured in the Covington schools, at Waynesburg College, at Waynesburg, Pa., and the Cumberland University, at Lebanon, Tennessee, and he was graduated from that institution in June 1874. After he came home he became a teacher in the Covington schools. In 1875 he became superintendent of the schools of Tippecanoe City and filled that position for twenty-one years, only giving up his educational work in order to assume the duties of county auditor, to which he was first elected in November, 1895. He served through two terms, a period of six years, and then retired to private life, having no political ambitious. For fifteen years he was a member of the Miami County Board of School Examiners, and all that time was clerk of this body. Mr. Bartmess then become cashier of the Citizens National Bank of Covington, a position he continued to fill until his death, May 2, 1905.

In his political views he was a Republican. From boyhood he had entertained a patriotic love of country and when Civil War was first declared, he endeavored to overcome opposition and become a soldier, but he was not accepted until 1862, and then only in the capacity of drummer boy. he continued until the close of the war a member of Company G, 110th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and twice suffered imprisonment, once at Libby Prison and second at Andersonville. For a number of years he was active in the Grand Army of the Republic Post, first at Tippecanoe City, later at Troy, which he served as commander and in other offices.

On December 23, 1875, Mr. Bartmess was married to Miss Mary Belle Routson, a daughter of A. Routson, of Covington, and they had three children: Blanche; Ruth, who died when aged five years; and James William. Mr. Bartmess was a consistent member of the Presbyterian church. He was a Knights Templar Mason and an Odd Fellow and belonged to the Royal Arcanum. In private life be was a man of genial disposition, kindly and companionable.